Equine rhinopneumonitis
OIE Reference Laboratory Reports
Activities in 2011
Name of disease (or topic) for which you are a designated OIE Reference Laboratory: / Equine rhinopneumonitis(EHV-1 and EHV-4)
Address of laboratory: / Freie Universität Berlin
Institut für Virologie
Philippstraße 13, Haus 18
10115 Berlin
GERMANY
Tel.: / (+49-30) 2093.6582
Fax: / (+49-30) 2093.6540
e-mail address: /
website: / www.vetmed.fu-berlin.de/WE05
Name (including Title and Position) of Head of Laboratory (Responsible Official): / Prof. Dr Klaus Osterrieder
Name(including Title and Position) of OIE Reference Expert: / Dr Kerstin Borchers
Name (including Title and Position) of writer of this report
(if different from above): / Dr Armando Damiani
Part I: Summary of general activities related to the disease
1. Test(s) in use/or available for the specified disease/topic at your laboratory
Test / For / Specificity / TotalRK13 cell culture
/ Isolation / EHV-1 / 710Real Time PCR
/ DNA / EHV-1 / 680ED cell culture
/ Isolation / EHV-4 / 50Real Time PCR
/ DNA / EHV-4 / 25Serum neutralization / Antibodies / EHV-1 / 2380
Serum neutralization / Antibodies / EHV-4 / 23
EHV-1 ORF 30 PCR and restriction enzyme digestion / DNA / EHV-1 neurological marker / 18
EHV-1 ORF 1-2 PCR / DNA / EHV-1 strain type / 12
2. Production and distribution of diagnostic reagents
Type of reagent / Amount supplied nationally(including for own use) / Amount supplied to other countries
EHV-1 and EHV-4 positive serum control / 15 ml / none
EHV-1 and EHV-4 negative serum control / 15 ml / none
EHV-1 RacL11 virus / 20 ml (high titer virus) / 2 ampoules of 1 ml
EHV-4 T252 virus / 20 ml (high titer virus) / none
EHV-1 RacL11 virus DNA / 50 ampoules of 0.10 ml / 2 ampoules of 0.10 ml
EHV-4 T252 virus DNA / 50 ampoules of 0.10 ml / 2 ampoules of 0.10 ml
Our laboratory has supplied reagents for EHV-1 serology to veterinary diagnostic laboratories within Germany and to an OIE Member country (Serbia). EHV-1 and EHV-4 DNA controls for PCR detection were sent to an OIE Member country (Ukraine)
Part II: Activities specifically related to the mandate
of OIE Reference Laboratories
3. International harmonisation and standardisation of methods for diagnostic testing or the production and testing of vaccines
None
4. Preparation and supply of international reference standards for diagnostic tests or vaccines
None
5. Research and development of new procedures for diagnosis and control
· Development of an ELISA test for the discrimination of EHV-1 and/or EHV-4 antibodies in serum
· Evaluation of a candidate EHV-1 live vaccine (EHV-1 ∆gC RacH strain) in horses
· Evaluation of serological responses and clinical outcome after field vaccination of mares and foals with inactivated EHV-1 and -4 (Duvaxyn - Pfizer) and EHV-1 live attenuated (Prevaccinol – Intervet) vaccines
6. Collection, analysis and dissemination of epizootiological data relevant to international disease control
· In 2011, isolation kits (consisting in swabs, falcon tubes with transport medium and instructions) were distributed to veterinarians in Germany as a part of a collaborative project with Merial Animal Health, Germany. The participants are encouraged to take samples from horses showing respiratory symptoms and submit them to our facilities. Samples are tested for EHV within 1 day of arrival and results are immediately sent to the veterinarian for disease control.
· We have initiated collaboration with the national diagnostic laboratory of Kyrgyzstan to develop diagnostic routines to detect the causative agent(s) of an abortion storm in 2011.
7. Maintenance of a system of quality assurance, biosafety and biosecurity relevant to the pathogen and the disease concerned
· Standard Operative Procedures (SOPs) are available. Positive and negative controls are included in every procedure. Biosecurity and biosafety measures are appropriately taken.
8. Provision of consultant expertise to OIE or to OIE Member Countries
· The laboratory provided consultant expertise in Germany as the OIE Reference Laboratory. We organized an EHV-1 serological ring trial with other German laboratories (6 labs in total) providing negative and field sera to the participants. All negative sera tested negative for EHV-1 while field sera tested positive with similar titers among the participants.
· The laboratory has started in 2011 collaboration with Dr. Artem Skrypnyk, Head of Laboratory of Molecular-Genetic Research in Kiev, Ukraine. Sera form horses were sent to our lab for EHV-1 antibody screening.
· The laboratory has started in 2011 collaboration with Dr. Vesna Milicevic, Head of Virology Department, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Serbia. Reagents for EHV-1 diagnosis were provided Sera form horses were sent to our lab for EHV-1 antibody screening.
9. Provision of scientific and technical training to personnel from other OIE Member Countries
· The collaboration with Dr. Artem Skrypnyk, Head of Laboratory of Molecular-Genetic Research in Kiev, Ukranie, will continue with a visit of a member of his lab for lab training in EHV diagnosis in 2012.
10. Provision of diagnostic testing facilities to other OIE Member Countries
· As part of the project “Evaluation of a candidate EHV-1 live vaccine in horses”, nasal swabs and PBMCs from vaccinated animals were tested in our facilities by virus isolation in cell culture and real time PCR for the presence of EHV-1.
· Serum neutralization assays were provided for evaluation of antibody titers in sera of horses from Ukraine and Serbia.
11. Organisation of international scientific meetings on behalf of OIE or other international bodies
None
12. Participation in international scientific collaborative studies
None
13. Publication and dissemination of information relevant to the work of OIE (including list of scientific publications, internet publishing activities, presentations at international conferences)
¡ Presentations at international conferences and meetings
Two members of the laboratory (Prof. Klaus Osterrieder and Dr. Armando Damiani) participated in the Havemeyer Equine Herpesvirus-1 Workshop at Steamboat Co, USA, from 18th-23rd September 2011. Topics such as viral virulence factors, models for pathogenesis studies, diagnosis and disease control were approached and discussed.
¡ Scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals
None
¡ Other communications
None
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Annual reports of OIE Reference Centres, 2011 3